in which—every soul had, and has and ever had, its being.”
(5246-1)
“In the matter of form, as we find, there were first those projections from the animal kingdom; for the thought-bodies gradually took form; and the various combinations . . . classified themselves as gods or rulers over . . . herds, or fowls, or fishes—in part much of the form of the present-day man . . . These took on many sizes as to stature . . . from midgets to giants, for there were giants in the earth in those days—men as tall as ten to twelve feet, and well-proportioned throughout.”
(364-11)
“The earth brought forth the seed in her season, and man came in the earth plane as the lord of all in that sphere; man appearing in five places then at once. There were the five senses, the five reasons, the five spheres, the five developments, the five nations. (5748-1) The number of human souls in the earth plane then was 133,000,000 souls.”
(5748-2)
“In the beginning, as matter was impregnated with spirit of the Creative Influence, there came into being Man, in his environment that made for indwelling of the spirit with a soul that might be made one with that Creative Energy.
“That matter became impregnated with spirit arose from the very fact that spirit, separated, had erred; and only through the environment of matter of flesh might the attributes of the source of good be manifested.
“For the spirit of evil has not—did not—become manifested in matter; it has only been moved by, or upon, or through matter . . . . Just as the process of time has moved in and through matter, so there has come to man—in the finite mind—the consciousness of the indwelling of soul, spirit, body . . .
“Hence, as we find, the mind of man then divided for the understanding into the conscious, physical-conscious; the subconscious or unconscious-conscious; and the super- or soul-conscious of the individual entity.”
(5752-3)
“For the entity came not merely by chance. For the earth is a causation world, and in the earth cause and effect are the natural law. And as each soul enters this material plane it is to meet or give such lessons or truths that others, too, may gain more knowledge of the purpose for which each soul enters . . .
“Then ye as a soul-entity in the beginning sought companionship with God; losing that companionship by choice of . . . what would satisfy or gratify merely the material desire. Thus ye, as the Master, enter again and again; coming to fulfill the law that brought that soul into being: to be one with Him.”
(3645-1)
“Q. Do the lower forms of creation, such as animals, have souls or any life in the spirit form?
“A. All have the spirit force. Man, as he was made, carries the soul force, that which was made equal with the Creator in the beginning in relation to production in his (man’s) plane of existence. Hence, the necessity for development of that soul energy . . . For in man we find both the spirit entity and the physical entity.”
(900-24)
“Survival of the fittest applies in the animal kingdom, not for man. Let all read history. Which has survived—brute strength or the development towards God? Which survives—the man who studies God and seeks to emulate His forces and powers, or the man who emulates the forces of earth or flesh? This answers itself . . .”
(900-340)
“Q. Are souls perfect, as created by God in the beginning? If so, where is there any need for development?
“A. The answer to this may only be found in the evolution of life, in such a way as to be understood by the finite mind. In the First Cause or Principle, all is perfect. That portion of the whole (manifest in the creation of souls) may become a living soul and equal with the Creator. To reach that position, when separated from Him, it must pass through all stages of development in order that it may be one with the Creator.”
(900-10)
“Q. The first problem concerns the reason for creation. Should this be given as God’s desire to experience Himself, God’s desire for companionship, God’s desire for expression—or in some other way?
“A. God’s desire for companionship and expression.
“Q. The second problem concerns that which is variously called evil, darkness, negation, sin. Should it be said that this condition existed as a necessary element of creation—that the soul, given free will, found itself with the power to indulge in it or lose itself in it? Or should it be said that this (evil, sin) is a condition created by the activity of the soul itself? Should it be described, in either case, as a state of consciousness, a gradual lack of awareness of self and self’s relationship to God?
“A. It is the free will, and its losing itself in its relationship to God.
“Q. The third problem has to do with the fall of man. Should this be described as something which was inevitable in the destiny of souls? Or something which God did not desire, but which He did not prevent once He had given free will . . . ?
“A. He did not prevent, once having given free will. For He made the individual entities or souls in the beginning . . . the beginnings of sin, of course, were in (the souls’) seeking experiences of themselves outside of the plan, or the way in which God had expressed them. Thus it was the individual, see?
“Having given free will, then—and even though having foreknowledge, even though being omnipotent and omnipresent—it is only when the soul that is a portion of God chooses, that God knows the end thereof.
“Q. The fourth problem concerns man’s tenancy on earth. Was it originally intended that souls remain out of earthly forms, and were the races originated as a necessity resulting from error?
“A. The earth and its manifestations were only the expression of God, and not necessarily as a place of tenancy for the souls of man—until man was created . . . to meet the needs of existing conditions . . .
“Q. The sixth problem concerns interplanetary and inter-system dwelling between earthly lives. It was given through this source that the entity . . . went to the system of Arcturus, and then returned to earth. Does this indicate a usual or an unusual step in soul evolution?
“A. As indicated, or has been indicated in other sources besides this, respecting this very problem—Arcturus is what may be called the centre of this universe; (the system) through which individuals pass, and at which period there comes the choice of the individual as to whether it is to return to complete (evolution) there; . . . that is, in this planetary system, our sun and its planetary system . . . or to pass on to others. This was an unusual step—and yet a usual one.
“Q. The seventh problem concerns implications from the sixth problem. Is it necessary to finish the solar cycle before going to other systems?
“A. Necessary to finish the solar cycle . . . .
“Q. Must the solar cycle be finished on earth, or can it be completed on another planet; or does each planet have a cycle of its own which must be finished?
“A. If it is begun on earth, it must be finished on the earth. The solar system of which the earth is a part is only a portion of the whole. For as indicated in the number of the
